Travel Nurse Job Description

A travel nurse is a licensed registered nurse that travels throughout the country or the world to provide nursing care on a shift basis. Rather than working in one designated health care facility travel nurses prefer to work temporary shifts at different facilities. This allows them the opportunity to travel, work in different environments and treat different types of patients and diseases. Travel nurse shifts are typically between 4-12 weeks long, but can be up to two years. Travel nurses usually enroll with a travel nursing placement agency to obtain their work shifts. The agency acts as an intermediary between the travel nurse and the facility seeking to employ a nurse for a temporary shift. The travel nurse position is ideal for registered nurses who want to explore the world, experience different cultures and help treat disease and illness in third-world countries. Travel nurses play an important role in helping to fill the nursing shortage throughout the U.S.